Featured comment:

Madam Speaker is surely getting her own back for the times she was ejected.

A more bias Speaker could not be envisaged.

Shorten should lead his colleagues from the House.

Commenter

Jason of Gold Coast

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:51PM

Sort comments by:

Just for the record, does anyone know how many times Julia Gillard refused to answer the question: "When did the Prime Minister become aware that the member for Dobell was under investigation?"?

It goes both ways kids.

Commenter

Details Reqd

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 5:00PM

Abbott hounded Labor relentlessly over Thomson, on the basis of allegations. There were allegations surrounding Sinodinos, so Abbott reaps what he sows in this regard. He is being questioned in the same manner that he relentlessly questioned the previous government.

He is getting what he deserves.

Commenter

Master Blaster

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 6:05PM

Re:"We are leaders in coal production...and intellectual research."

Err, do they understand what an oxymoron is in Queensland?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 4:46PM

4:21 - Chris Bowen - perhaps what you're trying to say is that the Coalition are able to listen to voters and are able to change their minds.

Labor should try it sometime, there's a couple of burning issues right now in fact.

The question that needs to be asked is whether some MPs will receive the rough end of any of those pineapples delivered to Parliament House (4:04PM)

Commenter

stevek

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 4:36PM

For someone with the name of Pyne it d be apt.

Commenter

A country gal

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 4:47PM

"Arthur Sinodinos was personally warned by Dr Schott that he should be careful of the company he was keeping&suggested AWH dishonest #ICAC"

Kate McClymont's tweet bears repeating. Arthur might be a nice guy, but he is no innocent victim of subterranean manipulation. If Dr Schott and others who have already given evidence are to be believed (and why not?) at the very least it would seem that Arthur knowingly turned a blind eye to what was happening in the business whose affairs he was directing.

Commenter

Whyalla Wipeout

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:59PM

How very convenient of Arthur Sinodinis to stand down the day before he was required to make a statement in parliament about what he knew about Australian Water Holdings.

Sinodinis who was Chairman, Director, lobbyist and shareholder of Australian Water Holdings when he was also NSW Liberal party Treasurer, claims ignorance of both the donation paid by AWH and the donation received by the NSW Liberals.

So who the heck was in charge of finances and producing the financial accounts for shareholders?

AWH only had 10 employees - 4 directors, 5 lobbyists and 1 other employee and only 1 contract with Sydney Water, which was awarded without public tender.

AWH also had massive cashflow problems.

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 5:20PM

‘People do have a right to be bigots’, says Australia’s Attorney-General.

‘Racism tops fears for migrants,’ says this morning’s headline.

Ah, makes you proud to be Australian, doesn’t it?

Commenter

Gigondas

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:46PM

The current Opposition cannot be effective during Question Time, for one reason alone. It has nothing to due with the lefties calls of bias against the Speaker, but all to do with Labor's incompetence when they were in Government. Basically, Labor is a sitting duck as any question asked by them can easily be deflected back to their own dismal performance when in Government. Health, Education, Border protection, you name it. Too bad, so sad.

Commenter

Four term Tony

Location

Whyalla

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:37PM

Who cares? Nothing that happens in Question Time matters unless it makes it onto the news broadcasts. So Abbott and Dolores can continue to run the place like a private club and nobody will notice until Labor leads the inevitable walk-out when it can have the most impact.

Commenter

Whyalla Wipeout

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:55PM

I'd spin it slightly differently. The Government's reflexive answering every criticism of their performance with a criticism of their predecessor's performance may play well with people who already agree with them, but it is getting very, very tiresome for those wanting to hear an intelligent argument, or even a cogent rebuttal of the criticism.

And, let's face it, it is the ones who are not rusted on who will decide whether Tony ends up as Four Term Tony or One Term Tony. It might be a good idea for him to engage in the argument, and leave the abuse / blame / excuses to the hard-working army of Liberazzis on this site.

Commenter

Gigondas

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:55PM

fixed term/eligible for parole Tony - Arfur has nothing to do with Labor, unless you think Arfur was connected with the Obeid clan? which doesn't go down well I think - especially as the whole mess will contaminate NSW LNP as well - Arfur and his Chairmanship is a rare gift from the LNP to Labor

Commenter

rod steiger

Location

toukley

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:58PM

"Not because the speaker is biased"? You have got to be kidding, this is without doubt the most biased, unfair speaker ever to stain the speakers chair. I'll give her one thing, her imagination in applying questions to rules that have no resemblance of the standing orders in question. For terminal tony, the PM's refusal to answer the questions on when he first knew about Sinodinis' involvement, should have been mandated. The Speaker's role is to apply relevance, she did not.

Commenter

cycloniq

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:59PM

Now that Howes has confirmed that the bust up is on, does this mean that the unions will start rallying against the carbon tax and other job-reducing ALP policies ?

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 4:00PM

I think the LNP mantra of blaming Labor for everything is working as well as their 3 word slogans. We will need for the Australian people to wake and smell how bad this government really is. It will take another but judging by the way the opinion poles are sliding maybe sooner rather than later.

Commenter

Get Real

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 4:01PM

If that be true your man would be beyond his use-by date.

Commenter

Jason of Gold Coast

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 4:02PM

lol FTTony Thanks for a good afternoon laugh. On happy hour now, huh?

Commenter

Jump

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 4:09PM

And at the same time the government look like a possessed divorcee ranting, blaming labor for every thing under the sun and not moving forward.

Commenter

Tim

Location

Inner City

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 4:27PM

You obviously don't watch question time to see how biased bishop is or otherwise you just think contempt for the Speakers chair is fair behavior.

Commenter

Lance

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 4:30PM

2.48 pm. I leave for an appointment only to come back to find that there's nothing new in Question Time (from one day to the next).I think it's time for all politicians to give up this charade - it's such a waste of our taxes. And, to think that we people voted in these puerile people to represent us? What a joke!

Commenter

Jump

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:31PM

Dixers on the carbon & mining tax which as neither of which have had anywhere near the "disastrous" effects predicted, even the Libs look half-hearted

This is pretty much the only thing we have heard.

For months.

But that's apparently ok according to Bronnie's interpretation, the standing orders do not actually require answers, but it is just fine to keep asking the same question.

And they wonder why people are disengaged with politics, and they get paid how much again?

Commenter

Sambo

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:57PM

Sambo, like you, I've had a gutful of our politics, especially the bully-boy taunitng form the one side. The same side that were in opposition last year. Have they not learned anything? As someone who believes in having their say, and having someone listen, question time is a farce, the speaker hasn't got a clue, and the opposition questioning is poor.I might have to just pull my head in and let this unruly mob undo everything that went before them.Back to the sixties indeed!

Commenter

Al48

Location

Gippsland

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 4:12PM

Every time the Prime Minister won't answer a question in question that requires a simple yes or no we onlookers can only assume that what the opposition assumes by the question must be correct. All Australians need to take a look at the British Parliament's question time where yes and no answers are to the fore. The speaker Browyn Bishop is a disgrace in allowing the Prime Minister to evade answering questions.

Commenter

RTP

Location

Sawtell

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:54PM

Oh yes, we need Parliamentary tips from a democracy that has become a cultural basket case.

Any other ideas?

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:03PM

RTP, you should tell it how it rally is. No politician of ANY persuasion EVER answers a question with a simple yes or no, unless this question is a set queue from that politicians own camp. The master of this deception during the past 40 years has been Kevin Rudd. ALL others, simply answer the question with a statement which serves their own cause best ! ..... FACT !

Commenter

Pistol Pete

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:06PM

Ha! It was exactly the same during the last parliament, nothing has changed at all.

Labor supporters just can't get around to the fact that its not as much fun when the boot is on the other foot.

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:09PM

SteveH.You're sounding more and more mature each year Steve; like a good bottle of Pinot Noir from Central Otago

Commenter

Econorat

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 4:01PM

I'm having a lot of trouble envisioning SteveH as the Block 5 Felton Road of amateur political commentators. It's a highly disturbing thought. It may well drive me to drink.

Commenter

Gigondas

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 4:44PM

Madam Speaker is surely getting her own back for the times she was ejected.

A more bias Speaker could not be envisaged.

Shorten should lead his colleagues from the House.

Commenter

Jason of Gold Coast

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:51PM

A gargoyle is "a spout, terminating in a grotesque representation of a human or animal figure with open mouth, projecting from the gutter of a building for throwing rain water clear of a building."

Commenter

rod steiger

Location

toukley

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:58PM

She's a disgrace. Makes no attempt to keep the House in order in the true sense of Order

Commenter

Graeme

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:10PM

Can anyone overrule the speaker? Let her cool her heels for an hour? Has there been any truly independent, impartial speakers. Harry Jenkins seemed to have been fairly decent. Peter Slipper is the closest we've had to an independent speaker but he clearly had an axe to grind with the LNP after he jumped ship.

Commenter

stevek

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:11PM

I'm surprised they haven't conducted a walkout. Ever happened before?Can't believe the farce, I used to enjoy QT.

Commenter

A country gal

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:12PM

It goes with the government gorilla tactics, throw the same stones each day, run and hide behind/under the speakers skirt each time they break thew rules. The speakers dyslexia isn't getting any better when "members on my left" is used for the "right" side.

Commenter

Tim

Location

Inner City

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:18PM

a walkout IS the only answer

Commenter

paff

Location

syd

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 5:02PM

Jason of Gold Coast, what are you whinging about, Shorten is leading his colleagues from the House.Come the next election, Labor will be lucky to have 10 seats.

Commenter

Thepres

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 5:50PM

Err, “Mr Hockey, why do we need to repeal the Mining Tax?”

Hockey: “That is good question.”

“Thankyou. But what is your answer to the question?”

Hockey: “As I said, it is good question.”

Err. “Yes, but you have not answered the question, are the mining companies falling on hard times, is this a reason for repealing the Mining tax?”

Hockey: “That’s another good question.”

“Err, Mr Hockey, are you aware that BHP paid the ex-chairman of BHP, Marius Kloppers's $75 million payout, with the promise of another $19 million in shares. That Klopper’s windfall may exceed BHP’s meagre Mining Tax payment by several million?”

Hockey: That’s a good question, perhaps you should ask BHP.

“Err, you do understand that the mining companies are making record profits. BHP recently registered a six month profit of $7.6 billion; Woodside: $1.753 billion; and Rio Tinto $10.2 billion.”

Hockey: “What I understand is not the question.”

“Err, but you have not answered the question, Mr Hockey.”

Hockey: “What question is that?”

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:48PM

Sounds similar to the Abbott and Costello skit who's on first.Except the joke is on the Australian people.

Commenter

Get Real

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:35PM

...and how close did we come to having Abbott and Costello running the house. The Abbott/Hockey comedy show is bad enough.

Commenter

MP

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 5:03PM

Didn't JG get into a bit of strife over the neckline of one of her tops?One rule for one, one for others.

Commenter

A country gal

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:40PM

Who is JG?

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:01PM

Honestly, the Government needs to get over its obsession with blaming everything on the ALP. It's like watching someone fight with their ex-boyfriend or girlfriend - always the other one's fault.

Just get on with governing!

Commenter

pseudomys

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:33PM

Dah-dah-dah-dahdaah-dah-dah-dah-dahdahh is that the Lone Howes coming to the rescue of the Labor Party? Oh no, it's Short’s dust retreating from the fray..Can anyone see Jool's? No? Oh my God, where is Kevin?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:16PM

Kev's off shining his pipe and posing for painted portraits in some European drawing room...

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:05PM

It struck me last week, as both major parties scrambled to repay embarrassing political donations, why should the money go back to its dodgy source? Rather than making the dodgies richer by giving them their money back, why not simply donate it to charity so it goes to someone who needs / deserves it? Or, in the Liberal’s case, why not put it straight into consolidated revenue if the cupboard is really as bare as Joe’s so loudly proclaiming?

Commenter

Gigondas

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:57PM

Gigondas - excellent suggestion. However, would the charity want to be in receipt of dodgy funds?

Commenter

Sarah of Carnegie

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:04PM

Political donations needs a total overhaul but will never happen whilst the duopoly controls.The Greens have tried, but to no avail.It also gets me in an age of technology why these donations are not made public once the money is banked and cleared.No excuses, none, zilch.

Commenter

A country gal

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:06PM

Gigondas, if you're refering to the dodgy AWH donations to the LP then that money has or should be rightly returned to the NSW taxpayers, i.e. NSW Water. It was ripped out of them in the first place.

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:09PM

Gig - It's my understanding under Federal electoral laws that if a donation is deemed illegal or cannot be properly traced and attributed to a third party for disclosure then the funds revert to the Commonwealth.

Commenter

Smack

Location

City of the Fallen

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:34PM

I wonder if PNG would consider broadening the current asylum seeker agreement and just keep Tony as well ?

Commenter

thefinn

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:54PM

I would ship them all 150 HoR MP's and all 76 senators & pay them heaps to resettle them all in PNG.

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:18PM

I just hope that all those who voted against Howe going into politics in the SMH poll were Labor supporters if not Labor is well and truly doomed.

Commenter

RTP

Location

sawtell

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:36PM

Labor Doomed!! not really as long as Abbott is PM there will always be a pulse.

Commenter

Get Real

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:52PM

@Get Real

Did you actually read what you wrote? Abbott IS PM. That alone signals the death knell of the ALP.

Time to find a new party that will have a chance - and I don't mean The Greens. They went under when Bob Brown left the house for a moment and the kids started a fire in the kitchen.

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:07PM

It's true Paul Howes is not going into politics....yet..

He's going back to school to do his HSC !

Commenter

Enrico

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:35PM

never too late enrico

Commenter

rod steiger

Location

toukley

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:52PM

Good on him if he does, but as an adult he will be exempt if wanting to attend Uni.You sound sarcastic.I'm no Howes fan but if he decides to educate himself further, then that is a positive thing.Kudos to him, if so.

Commenter

A country gal

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:15PM

neither did Keating.Circumstances and family situations can derail even the brightest.

i'd suggest he is probably pretty gifted in the IQ area.

You can mock him if it makes you feel you're better than him.

Commenter

Econorat

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:21PM

How about someone ask Hunt about how successful DA is going to be in reducing emissions whilst allowing for more forest degradation and paying polluters to pollute.Given BHP had a profit of $8+B, time they paid for their pollution, a few measly M and a grant of 100M.

Commenter

A country gal

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:27PM

Bill Shorten should be very aware. When he looks over his left shoulder from now on he will see the face of the smiling assassin, Paul Howes. The clock is ticking BS, he is coming to get you.

Commenter

Airato

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:34PM

I hope someone asks Abbott how on earth can PNG resettle our refugees, when PNG Govt cannot even take care of their own people. PNG rates as one of the worst most violent places on earth,and cannot possibly resettle people. Next thing now, Abbott will be shopping them around Asian nations on Ebay.!

Commenter

Piesnchess

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:28PM

Judging by the Abbott's photo opp tour of PNG it is safe to say he toured the safe areas. You would think a PM would visit the site of his one and only so called "policy".

Commenter

Get Real

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:51PM

Not surprised Howes is burnt out. Would be an extremely tough sell to even suggest that Labor Future should be more about working people and less about unionists. Did I read that only 19% of working Australians belong to a union?

Commenter

Sarah of Carnegie

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:27PM

and yet over 50% of Australians would, 2 party preferred, elect labor in an election held today! Fancy that! I guess the union bashing is largely irrelevant Sarah so save you strength and give it up. Horse dead flogged.

Commenter

rod steiger

Location

toukley

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:41PM

Rod, now don't burst a gasket. Why are you getting all defensive?

I would like to see a Labor Party move into this direction. Might surprise you that when in NZ I voted Labor. Never once National. I don't vote here in Australia.

Commenter

Sarah of Carngie

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:52PM

But there wont be an election held today or tomorrow, or the week after so that point is moot Rod.

Commenter

Sarah of Carnegie

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:57PM

ah, but, left-leaning Sarah, a double dissolution looms - could Abbott be that dumb? never say never ..

Commenter

rod steiger

Location

toukley

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:01PM

@Rod - there won't be a DD as pony tony lied about it. He said at the election (and even did his us bully boy threats after he was elected) to go to a DD if the carbon tax was rejected. Well it was rejected d we are still waiting. Why? Because he doesn't have the ticker to honor his word and from a man who said he would be better than the last mob.

Commenter

Lance

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 4:37PM

So the picture caption showed Mr. Abbott mingling with the Locals. I, for one, would have been happier to have seen him show courage in speaking with those his heartless Government has incarcerated!

Commenter

Cicero

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:25PM

Hmmm Paul Howes "There's nothing more ex than an ex."

What does KRudd think about that statement?

Commenter

stevek

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:24PM

When even The Australian writes a report about you as if you've already permanently left parliament, you know you're political career is over.

Don't you Arthur Sinodinis?

Busy man.

2 back to back ICAC investigations - Australian Water Holdings and Liberal slush fund EightByFive, followed by a lawsuit from disgruntled AWH investors.

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:19PM

Bold move by Howes. Is he proposing that he is the proponent-instigator of the ACTU-ALP bust up ? You'd imagine it will take several years and many tears.

I wonder if he gave Shorten advance notice, or kindly repaid the favour from when Shorten back flipped on Jules.

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:05PM

Welcome back Hacka! Recovered from the jet lag and back into the deflection gotta keep Arthur out of the news today. By the way love the pic 11:12am!

Commenter

Get Real

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:15PM

or "a government I lead will create one meeeeellion jobs" a government that is devoid of a plan to create anything might get to one million jobs but it won't be creating them, the opposite

Commenter

rod steiger

Location

toukley

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:36PM

Ah, Hacka, I see my prognostication at 9:13 was right...

"To deflect from the Arthur Sinodinos Show and any number of embarrassments and policy vacuums, the Liberazzi will be loudly pushing the ‘watch out Bill, Paul’s after your job’ line. Who needs functioning policy when you’ve got the Labor Party to kick."

Commenter

Gigondas

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:37PM

Ha ha Gigondas - so basically any topic that isn't your chosen one of the day is about deflection ?

Sorry - Sinodinos is last week's news, there's a new show in town now - it's called The Bust Up, and it's coming your way.

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:51PM

you better get onto Rupert, hacks - he stilll thinks it's news and reports it in the Australian

12.47 NIC, sounds like a direct reference re Pt Abbot dredging. Good luck and kudos to MCC and also Getup for providing the $150K to fight for the survival of the GBR.

Commenter

A country gal

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:57PM

The Pulse @ 12:27pm

With such enthusiastic praise from Bill "I wish him well" Shorten, Paul Howes had better watch his back.

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:43PM

So basically BS would have done anything to get power. I can't understand why he is such a limp dishrag in Opposition. Lacks the ticker. Where is the same passion he demonstrated when he knifed two PM's.

Commenter

Sarah of Carnegie

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:40PM

Still bereft of ideas then?

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:47PM

Of who might be the next Labor Leader? Not at all. Already thrown my pick into the ring.

Commenter

Sarah of Carnegie

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:02PM

if you actually bothered to watch him deliver a speech in Parlt he is a very good speaker, Ive seen him give several firebrand speeches, one last week. Far better than Abbotts, with his constant errs, ahhs, umms, ahhs,. I don't think Albo would be any better either.

Commenter

Piesnchess

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:24PM

SarahPrevails you could give us a clue as to a policy (any policy? ) that you think Shorten could oppose. Perhaps Tony could give his seat to Shorten. At least then we could have a policy to debate.

Commenter

Steve

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:30PM

yes it is a win lewis - completely against prognostications prior to the election, and down to one Anthony Abbott's flailing around on industry assistance policy - an excellent opposition hairball in the S-bend, but a hopeless tangle when in government

Commenter

rod steiger

Location

toukley

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:15PM

Sarah: Just when are your lot going to start acting like a government. They are now expected to do more than simply run the ALP down. Its your mob that are in government after all Sarah. How about they actually start doing something constructive? Personally i think you all need to grow up and stop acting like schoolyard bullies. Or are Abbott and his boys simply bereft of actual policy and ideas?????????

Commenter

meganjj

Location

melbourne

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:21PM

meganjj - they not my lot. I didn't vote for them.

Commenter

Sarah of Carnegie

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:48PM

Seeing as though Howes has got the nation's attention today, why doesn't he do a Clive and call the press conference for 2pm ?

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:40PM

Better still, lets have a press conference on how the Libs lost the SA election?

Commenter

lance

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:58PM

"To lose, The unloseable election, To shoot, Oneself in both feet"No such a thing as a drover's dog when the NLP get to work on th electorate

Commenter

rod steiger

Location

toukley

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:05PM

Easy Weatherill is good at negotiating unlike the liberals.

Commenter

Amro

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:12PM

Yes i did wonder if you Labor guys would be impressed with Howes move - clearly not.

The good news is you'll be able to rewrite the ALP charter and get rid of all that stuff Kev forced in just before the election. Will smooth the path for Howes to replace Bill after it's all done and dusted.

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:33PM

meanwhile, hacky, back at LP HQ in Adelaide - "Why did we run with this kid? and when we did , why did we run with the credlin low profile out of the press conferences method? Got to get replace him fast" " I know a drover with a really smart dog?"

Commenter

rod steiger

Location

toukley

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:50PM

This triumphalism is hilarious. The ALP was absolutely trounced in NSW, QLD, WA, NT, Federal & TAS elections. They do win convincingly in ACT but just sneak in the back door in SA elections with just 47% 2PP & this is a win?

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:05PM

Re Question at 1.09. We know how Joe started his answer, I guessing he finished it with "because we prefer to rip money from the pockets of constituents rather than from Companies making billions"

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 2:16PM

well as I am not a Lbor guy your comment doesn't really effect me however personally I couldn't care less as to what owes does. It is no issue as far as I am concerned but given how Peta has asked you to keep mentioning it I suspect there is something else you are trying to deflect people from?

In any case, they still lost the SA election as they demonstrated yet again they can't negotiate, it isl or nothing.

Here's a thought. There was a comment that pointed out IChristopher Pyne has been reported as describing the new SA Government as illegitimate. His thesis presumably is that although the ALP won more seats, it didn't win the two party preferred vote. Funny that, because in 2010, Pyne, Abbott and Co decried the Gillard government as illegitimate because it won fewer seats than the coalition, despite winning the two part preferred vote. Getting caught up in their own spin - again.

Commenter

Lance

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 4:28PM

Whether unemployment figures are massaged or not it does hide the fact of the massive discrepancy between ABS and Morgan unemployment figures.

“Morgan unemployment figures released yesterday show an estimated 1.561 million Australians are now unemployed. This represents 12.3 per cent of the workforce and is now the highest figure since February 1994, some 20 years ago. An additional 1.08 million Australians are classified as underemployed, working part time while looking for more work.”

Australia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage points but the rounded estimate remained at 6.0 per cent in February, as announced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS, 14/3/2014).

Who is lying and why? Who has something to gain by lying?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:38PM

I'll give you a hint, Pen. Even the ABS do not really believe their own figures.

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:46PM

This leaves a vacancy for Shorten the Union Puppet, he could go back to his old job. He should feel quite at home.

Commenter

Observer

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:33PM

If it was his old job then you would think he would be at home with - duh! Not sure what your point was?

Commenter

lance

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:59PM

"The leaked email quoted in the story clearly only requested input into the wording around the media release and in no way sought to alter the figures to be published."

The Liberals have their version of the Pete Seeger song: 'for every thing spin, spin, spin. There is a reason spin, spin, spin'

Commenter

Whyalla Wipeout

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:30PM

So Howes has no plans. Err could Shorten have been taken off the short list for PM?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:22PM

Did he visit Manu's Island? NO he didn'tDid he 'tour' and 'meet' the asylum seekers detained anywhere in PNG? NO he didn't.

What the hell was the outcome of his visit and playing footy with the locals?

Useless really

Commenter

Not Really

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:19PM

Typical hysteria, the point of the visit was to talk to the PNG PM, not to froth up the inner city latte set.

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:26PM

Looks like the point of the visit was one big photo op.

Commenter

Whyalla Wipeout

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:31PM

So... SteveH, do you have some qualm with Lattes or Inner CIty?

Or are you trying to tell me that politicians just like to 'visit' politicians from other countries these days without any intended purpose of the visit?

Commenter

Not Really

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 3:36PM

Re: “The Liberal MP for Reid said that Monday night was his favourite on the ABC, given the line-up of the news, 7.30, Australian Story, Media Watch and then Q&A.”

Obviously some people can never get their fill of the Australian pastime: she’ll be right mate?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:13PM

Can someone please ask melbourne centrist why one of the key indicators and consequences of global warming is the massive ice loss at both poles and why evermore ice is melting.

The main difference between the amounts of ice melting at the poles is the Arctic polar region ice floats on the ocean, whereas the Antarctic regional ice is on land and sea. Obviously warming seas dictate the differentials by which they melt.

Nevertheless measurements of Antarctic ice made by the CrySat satellite reveal an average yearly ice loss of approximately “150 cubic kilometers from the West Antarctica ice sheet alone. This is considerably more ice loss than previously estimated. Perhaps Melbourne centrist can explain how the sun alone is responsible for this?

So what is happening is the main losses derive from melting glaciers, their runoff waters flow into the sea but the seas overall are not cooling by this inflow of chilled water they are warming, warming seas means sea expansion and expansion means sea rise of approximately one metre by the 2090. This rise will drown millions of hectares of Australian coast line.

Climate scientists from the U.S. Navy claim the Arctic could see its first almost ice-free summer in just two, in 2016. Why? Carbon dioxide traps heat in the atmosphere and directs it toward the ocean’s surface. The heat cannot penetrate deep by itself, however it does heat the the lower layers by decreasing the temperature gradient that is the steepness. A temperature gradient steepness works like a river decreases in flow as it steepness decreases.

All of this is true proven scientific fact and not ridiculous inane comment like that of melbourne centrist.

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:05PM

Paul Howes could be the saviour of the Labor Party if he choses to enter politics. The current Labor mob are not worth two bob !!!!

Commenter

noitall

Location

Beacon Hill

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:03PM

You cannot be serious

Commenter

BooHoo

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:35PM

More suited to the Libs. He's a dig it up, chop it down sorta guy.

Commenter

A country gal

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:11PM

So Paul Howes is seeking a corporate career. The next Qantas CEO perhaps?

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:48AM

he couldn't do worse that the current nuff nuff.

Commenter

petern

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:32PM

So, Howes has gone. Story acknowledged. Can we move on to something more interesting/important now? Cheers.

Commenter

Jump

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:38AM

Pic of the Day Alex @11.12 am.

Commenter

Sarah of Carnegie

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:28AM

now if we could have somehow snuck a yellow vest in there it would have been perfect

Commenter

harry

Location

melbourne

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:30AM

Hmm..looking at the 11:17Amk photo of Peta Credlin. Two of the Aussie flags are upside-down and the kid on the left is gesturing to someone. Is he ordering, or expressing an opinion?

Commenter

stevek

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:28AM

I notice that Christopher Pyne has been reported as describing the new SA Government as illegitimate. His thesis presumably is that although the ALP won more seats, it didn't win the two party preferred vote. Funny that, because in 2010, Pyne, Abbott and Co decried the Gillard government as illegitimate because it won fewer seats than the coalition, despite winning the two part preferred vote. In truth, I suspect C Pyne considers any ALP government to be illegitimate.

Commenter

Paulm

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:23AM

When it comes to defining 'hypocrisy', Pyne provides a whole separate entry in the Oxford English Dictionary.

Commenter

Whyalla Wipeout

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:50AM

Pyne's been trotted out, must be time for a deflection.

Commenter

A country gal

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:19PM

WW, I'm looking forward to it being included in the Pyne Curriculum (the one that has Menzies and Howard as the twin pinnacles of Australian political achievement).

Commenter

Gigondas

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:20PM

11.17am. The relevance, please?Seriously, who wishes to glorify our 'Queen of No' as an Australian? Nothing to see here...

Commenter

Jump

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:22AM

Clearly worthy of your erudite comment however.

Commenter

LESTWEFORGET

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:32PM

11.17am - nice photo of the PM meeting with some school children

Commenter

harry

Location

melbourne

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:20AM

Notice the other with Peta, about to grab the string. puppets string or is it an NBN cable.

Commenter

A country gal

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:49PM

He was talking about the one with Peta...

Commenter

Jason

Location

Avalon

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:06PM

Jason- paid!

Commenter

A country gal

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:20PM

What have we've done to deserve the barrage of Abbott pics this morning! Not a great way to start my week at least....

Commenter

Passionfruit

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:17AM

10.04 am. Are they already crying over the result - calling the bogus 'illegitimate government' ruse again? Not surprised.

Commenter

Jump

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:15AM

Memo (or maybe sms) from Howes to Pyne: Thanks mate for that kiss of death.

Commenter

Passionfruit

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:11AM

Reply from Pynne: "Any time , pal! My pleasure."

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:14AM

Re: "The sun is the main driver of climate change. Not you or CO2."

Really, has anyone had a look at Venus lately? I suppose there must be some other reason why it is the hottest planet in the solar system other than an atmosphere mainly comprising Co2?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:09AM

The reason that Venus went so hot is because it was a little too close to the sun for water to exist long terma a liquid. it's rain that can cool a planet and we all know the most efficient greenhouse gas that is water vapor... don't we?

Commenter

Brettie

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 1:39PM

Scott Morrison said..."This is a matter for the PNG government"

Did he even read the James Diaz plan in the the last federal election?

Commenter

Squeptical

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:07AM

If all else fails, Abbott is no doubt thinking of making use of the $7 million worth of orange unsinkable saunas and have the Manus mob sent back to people smugglers paradise.

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:02AM

Here's a thought: Paul Howes launches his own political party. PUP has shown that the electorate is after another credible choice other than the two-horse race we have now. PUP voters may feel they have been sold a pup so the door is open again.

Commenter

stevek

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 10:55AM

The Sinodinis affair is like MH370: no one really knows where to look for the wreckage.

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 10:48AM

It also similar to our Government which went off course immediately after take off.

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:02AM

Bravo Pen. Well put, sir

Commenter

stevek

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:04AM

They know the wreckage is floating out there in the Obeid Ocean, but neither side wants to look too closely there.

Commenter

Gigondas

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:11AM

Good quip Pen :-)

Commenter

Jump

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:19AM

Pen of hrba-They didn't have the same problem with Obeid, Macdonald, Thomson and Williamson. The Union Royal Commission will be starting up-watch this space.

Commenter

noitall

Location

Beacon Hill

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:07PM

Gold, "Dr Pen".So many theories but little result.

Commenter

A country gal

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:31PM

Please do not mention anything about Arthur Sinodinis today people. We've worked really hard to deflect from the fact that the Liberals are now linked to Obeid, and it appears to be working. The Craig Thomson affair might have gone on for more than a year but we appear to have got this one off the front pages within days. Good effort. Not on the front page of any News Corp or Fairfax paper today. Lucky for us there were some great alternative stories that we could help focus the media on.

paul howes can see the writing on the wall with the rc coming....first of many I suspect when it comes to union officials.... and when bill the knife shorten gets called as a witness in the royal commission, will he have to stand down like Arthur?

Commenter

melbourne centrist

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 9:38AM

I hope so melb-centrist. If ANY of them have been found to be lining their own pockets, out of their elected position, then they should be summarily turfed out.

Commenter

Jump

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:13AM

Howes is probably disgusted that labor have gone to the last two elections promising no carbon tax only to change their minds once the people have voted.

Maybe he doesn't want to deal with the fallout from the RC. He knows what has happened in the past and is ashamed. Will he call for BS to stand aside when he is called in front of the RC? Labor should have no issue with this given that is the position they have already taken.

Commenter

Pragmatic prince

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 9:28AM

I suspect Howes has had enough of the vile and vicious personal attacks that conservatives launch on their opponents.

Commenter

whyalla Wipeout

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 10:39AM

Feeling sore about losing an election PP? Oh, too bad for you.

Commenter

Jason

Location

Avalon

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 10:39AM

Probably? Maybe? You really don't know at all and just make things up to suit your position. That is a certainty.

Commenter

Dr Bombay

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 12:59PM

So what’s the agenda today? Let me prognosticate.

To deflect from the Arthur Sinodinos Show and any number of embarrassments and policy vacuums, the Liberazzi will be loudly pushing the ‘watch out Bill, Paul’s after your job’ line. Who needs functioning policy when you’ve got the Labor Party to kick.

Meanwhile, the Laborazzi are less predictable- they could be up in arms about the failings of the ABCC (no, not the ABC, the one with the extra C), or the plunging value of unemployment benefits, although in the age of greed is good, no-one wants to appear too sympathetic to the desperately poor.

And what will they both try to avoid? The asylum seeker debacle for one, which they can both claim part ownership, the continuing attacks on public education, again a terrific example of misguided bipartisanship, and the complete failure to do anything credible to do our bit to slow global warming.

Commenter

Gigondas

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 9:13AM

global warming? haven't you read the latest science from the un climate organization? 16 years with no discernible warming.... wasn't that why it got changed to climate change?

Commenter

melbourne centrist

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 10:20AM

So, melbourne centrist, without entering into a my stats/your stats argument (although I will say that looking at the whole data set without filtering it through an economic realist or anti-science prism you’d be hard pressed not to come to the conclusion that our actions are changing the climate, and that future generations will suffer as a result), what’s your view of Tony ‘Climate Change is Crap’ Abbott spending $3.2 billion (that’s billion, not million) of my money and your money on a policy that not only won’t work, but that is aimed at a problem he and you don’t think even exists?

Commenter

Gigondas

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 10:38AM

Bloomberg Aug. 29, 2013 is reporting that global governments are asking serious questions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in advance of the upcoming release of a new report. Friends of Science say the current 16 year period of no global warming as reported in the Daily Mail October 13, 2012 (despite a rise in carbon dioxide – CO2) would seem to invalidate the theory that carbon dioxide causes global warming in any catastrophic way.

A study by German researchers revealed that 65 climate models failed to predict the current hiatus.

Germany is abandoning many of its climate change policies and is presently building some 25 coal plants as reported in Forbes as early as August 31, 2012. Bloomberg reported on April 24, 2013 that carbon emissions prices in Europe collapsed this spring from a price of 34.90 euro per unit in 2008 to just 3.06 euro.

In addition to this, the Dutch government issued a direct statement to the IPCC recently stating: “The IPCC needs to adjust its principles: " We believe that limiting the scope of the IPCC to human induced climate change is undesirable, especially because natural climate change is a crucial part of the total understanding of the climate system, including human-induced climate change.”

Commenter

melbourne centrist

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 10:45AM

Forbes reported Feb. 13, 2013 that a peer-reviewed study of Alberta, Canada’s army of earth scientists and engineers have mostly been skeptical of those who hype global warming with scaremongering. Most point to the graph of the Holocene Epoch that stretches back 11,500 years. Ancient fossil and isotopic evidence show historic extremes of climate change, long before human use of fossil fuels.

Says Maier, "We've been telling people for over a decade, the sun is the main driver of climate change. Not you or CO2.”

Commenter

melbourne centrist

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 10:46AM

Yes, mc, lots of stats (I'm tempted to say 'your stats are bigger than my stats', but that would be childish, so I won't), but I repeat the focus question:

What’s your view of Tony Abbott spending $3.2 billion of our money on a policy that won't fix a problem that he and you don’t think even exists?

Commenter

Gigondas

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:04AM

im only interested in facts gigondas... and the facts are that there has been no warming in 16 years... do you accept this scientific fact? as for both parties policies.... both do not do any good apart from stripping cash out of people pockets.... as the un was quoted... carbon taxes are nothing to do with climate... the taxes are all about wealth distribution......

Commenter

melbourne centrist

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:11AM

mc, your portrayal of 'facts' is like picking out 10 blondes with tattoos in an AFL crowd to prove that only tattooed blondes attend AFL games.

No item of data has meaning without comprehensive context.

Commenter

Whyalla Wipeout

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:16AM

so whyalla you now don't believe the ipcc report?

Commenter

melbourne centrist

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:32AM

Every picture has two sides- and this one is no exception. Sixteen years is a small time frame when we’re talking about climate change. Most studies focus on much larger time frames. Furthermore this study is based solely on atmospheric temperature, whereas scientists believe that atmospheric warming accounts for less than 3% of the total warming, with 93% of warming stored in the oceans (much of it at great depth). This in turn affects ocean currents, and so affects weather patterns.

But we could go on swapping stats and theories forever- even in the (in my view) highly unlikely event that the Lord Monktons of this world are right, taking action to reduce carbon emissions will still reduce particular pollution, which is no bad result.

Commenter

Gigondas

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:33AM

i love denier "science" - not even cherry picking - denier citations are like needles found in a haystack - which are used to prove the satck is actually a needlestack - here's some stats from CSIRO this month "◦Australia’s mean surface air temperature has warmed by 0.9°C since 1910. ◦Seven of the ten warmest years on record have occurred since 1998. ◦Over the past 15 years, the frequency of very warm months has increased five-fold and the frequency of very cool months has declined by around a third, compared to 1951–1980. ◦Sea-surface temperatures in the Australian region have warmed by 0.9°C since 1900.".. and you love facts - from Forbes?ah yes, Forbes, and the motto of Forbes magazine is "The Capitalist Tool"....(really) - facts from Friends of Science?? there's an unbiased, non-petrochemical industry funded body for you

Commenter

rod steiger

Location

toukley

Date and time

March 24, 2014, 11:55AM

So MC, you are weighing the claims of one organisation against the pro-AGW side.

Firstly Friends of Science appears to be the basis of your claims and their opinion needs to be weighed against other sources. Try here: http://sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Friends_of_Science

You also mentioned the latest science from the un climate organization. I checked and found no such claims. Perhaps you can point us to this "latest science"